The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-27

Before Nilicii ] NDtli DOW my lNsdl
And stand with hat in hand "
'Carnak - she murmured: E" let me see,
Twas there We lunchel or eggs and tea
Bessie claadi4. IN he lBl,zloan Magqsire
MY BALLOON VOYAGE.
Ii was gray dawn, and the sky gave
promise Of fine winter day as our bal
loon shot up from amidst the expectant
crowd Of mingled soldiers and citizens
who babe US godspeed in our desperate
venture to carry TO Chanzy tidings Of the
condition Of beeagured Paris, and to as
certain the best-or wOrst-to be appre-
hended from without The Ariel-that
was the name Of our vessel-was fully
equipped fora long voyage, aud We hoped
that by judicious management we would
be able TO deliver the important dis
patches inirnsted 30 rs and in the event
Of difficulty as 10 the return trip we
would seek as high an altitude as was
consistent with safety, and. if the cur
rents proved contrary, seek hospitable
welcome on the north shore ofthe British
channel. There, at least, would We be
safe from the manuding, implacable,
iron handed German, almost ubiquitous
in France, until favoring winds would
make return easy. We were freighted
with very important dispatches and every
precaution had been taken for their in
stant destruction by powerful chemicals
in case of accident OF the fortunes of war
placing Us at the enemy's mercy. Ny
two companions were Mr. Frank \. Page,
young Nirginian, and an officer named
Heuriot, and We had an arsena! Of weap-
ons, ammunition, dynamite bombs, etc,
and were provided with excellent field
glasses.
"What grand sight said Page, rap
turously, as the Ariel scared aloft in the
quiet morning, leaving below US, spread
out like a vast panorama, the beautiful
city and its environs. with its aggregation
of triumphs Of architecture, its fountains
and columns, its squares, its gardens and
parks, with the Seine winding like sill
yer thread through it all, and the beauti- |
ful city of Versailles in the distance. II
was indeed a sight TO awaken rapturous
admiration of the beautiful. To Henriot |
however, il was full Of bitterness. The /
beauty was lost to him. His keen mill
tary instinct affected his vision, and TO |
him the most obtrudent features of the |
panorama over which Page and | en-
Unused were the triple lines Of the beseig- /
ing army and the froSning batteries |
which like black sentinels, at short inter-
walls, marked the line of seige. We we're |
feasting on the scene when suddenly we
heard distant shot, quickly followed by |
several Others.
We're discovered" said Heniot |
They are feeling our range"
Drop out some ballast said Page, |
who was our engineer. I'VE are too low
for safety. Those internal needle guns
have a long range
Puff Puff Puff We could see the |
jets of smoke, quickly followed by the
sonnd ofthe rifles of hostile marksmen. |
The wind WAS scarcely perceptible and |
wemoved very slowly. threw out more
ballast
Bang The shock was so unexpected |
and startling that nearly fell over the
side Of the car. Henriot was returning
the fire. Bang, again went his rifle |
grasped my field glass and adjusted the
focus | glanced at Henriot lie was
aiming at a group, evidently officers, who
were doubtless discussing their unexpect-
ed early visitors from slight knoll.
Bang went the heavy rifle again. Sew
eral seconds elapsed, when suddenly one
of the group tumbled from his horse and
the animal reared and plunged furious
ly.
Your rifles " excitedly cried Henriot
and in less time than ii takes me to tell it,
We were all three firing al the force below
Us, with what effect | could not distin-
guish. There was a perfect fusilade from
the infantry and body OF Uhlans rode
along, firing at Us on the run. At one
point six-pounder was trained on us,
bu; our increasing speed and height put
its use beyond possibility The WIND was
freshening and .'aris was rapidly reced-
ing 10 the west. W. were sailing along
at She height Of about mile, and had
just begun 10 congratulate each other ON
having distanoed the pursuing Uhlans
and passed the Gordon which encircled
the fated capital when a new enemy ap-
peared, conjured up 10y the telegraph
which the Germans, used - skillful-
y.
IL was another ballon
This was serious matter In the very
nature OF things Il was clearly battle of
no ordinary character must be fought; be-
cause, attaining our altitude-which was
evidently the enemys objective would
drift in close proximity to each other in
the same current and deadly rifle duel
would follow, ending up in death or dis
abling of either crew. These thoughts
ran rapidly through my mind as | took
in the situation. | glanced al Page.
Evidently similar train of thought had
been engaging him. Henriot had got
done thinking and was cropping amid the
stocks of offensive weapons with which we
were supplied, having evidently matured
plan of campaign.
They must not rise under US or we're
lost" said he, Can you afford to lower
us?n
ales, said Page and he had scarcely
spoken when felt tie Ariel sinkig.
That will do said Henriot. "rhev
will be nearly ON our level when We get
within range. We will Try our rifles first
and, falling, We must drop out ballast
and get above them. Oar bombs will do
the work-if indeed, contact with the
light structure of the balloon viii pro-
daoe concussion sufficient 10 explode
them. doubt if it will"
Henriot was treasure He dis .ussed
the probabilities of success at that height
Of over half mile, ON this zerhyr shin.
with as much sang froid as if he were go
ing out on dress parade / was terribly
apprehensive and l thought Page was